2nd Ministerial List: Okorocha’s In-Law, Emenike, Others Make List As Buhari
Considers Final Options
Barely three days after submitting the list of the first set of ministerial nominees,
President Muhammadu Buhari is weighing options on the next batch of nominees.Last
minutes of intense horse-trading and lobbying are ongoing in the affected states.
There were strong indications yesterday that the Presidency is shopping for a new Group
Managing Director for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) following the
nomination of the present holder, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as a Minister-designate.
The thinking of the presidency is that since Kachikwu will be the Minister of State for
Petroleum Resources, he cannot continue to be in charge of NNPC.
It was learnt that President Buhari believes a Minister cannot be a regulator and an
operator at the same time.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the jostle for the other slots has
become intense in the last 72 hours.
Most of the states are Ondo, Kogi, Abia, Enugu, Imo, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River,
Nasarawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Osun, Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Lagos
A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Despite the fact that the President has
set his own criteria, he is weighing options on the remaining candidates because of
interplay of factors.
“Although some aides are proposing the retention of the 42-man ministerial structure,
others are urging the President to stick to the 36-team model prescribed by the 1999
Constitution.
“The submission of the first batch of 21 names to the Senate has heightened lobby for
the remaining slots.”
It was gathered that governors, party leaders at all levels and associates have been
trying to reach out to the President and “strategic aides.”
But the battle for the slots was said to be keen at press time because no one knew the
mindset of the President.
Another source said: “For instance in Imo, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo wants the
slot for a former Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Festus
Odimegwu but Governor Rochas Okorocha is rooting for his in-law, Prof. Anthony
Anwuka (a former vice chancellor).
“Also in contention is a former governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for
Progressives Change (CPC) in 2011, Hon. Emeka Nwajuba.
“In Abia State, the jostle is between Buhari’s old associate, Ike Emenike and the party’s
governorship candidate, Anyim Nzeribe, who is a loyalist of Governor Rochas Okorocha in
the state.”
“Having been familiar with the politics of Kaduna, President Buhari is taking sole charge
of the ministerial nominee from the state, based on certain indices.
“In fact, Governor Nasir el-Rufai is actually staying away from making any input in the
nomination process. He has left the President and other stakeholders to sort it out.
“In Ondo State, the race for the ticket is between a former President of the Nigerian Bar
Association, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and a top politician from the state, who was an
executive of a multinational company.
“In Osun, there are three candidates for the slot and Buhari is expected to pick one. They
are ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola (recommended for his support and loyalty to
Governor Rauf Aregbesola and APC); the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the
University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole and a prominent politician in the state.
“Apart from also being a favourite of Obasanjo, ex-Governor Oyinlola’s candidacy is also
being promoted by some forces in APC.
http://www.igberetvnews.com/?p=14533
